Freezing tray



Dec. 9, 1941. c. H. STEENSTRUP FREEZING TRAY Filed June 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor": Car-l H. Steenstr'up', D W dam/1444' Attorney.

1941- -c. H. STEENSTRUP 2,265,795

FREEZING TRAY Filed June 8, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ne .t

Wt ct b H .6 I n "a M C .D

Patented Dec. 9, 1941 FREEZING TRAY Carl B. Steenstrup, Schenectady, N. Y., assigiiti" to General Electric Company, a corporationof H New York 14 Claims.

My invention ffg elates to freezing trays em-' ployed in refri'ge g machines for producing Many t e particularly those fadapted for household -use, are provided with a'freezing tray supported on a surface of a cooling unit associatedwith the refrigerating ma hine for producing ice. A partition assemblyf freezing tray in' ordertodivide the same into a numberfof"small 'jcompartments, so that the ice will be frozenin' the form of small blocks or cubes. The partition assembly is frequently separate from the, freezing tray and removable therefrom in order to facilitate the release of the Arrangements have been proposed for mechanically releasing'the partition assembly and the ice blocks carriedgthereby from the freezing tray and for mechanically releasing the .ice blocks from theipartition assemblywithout thawing the frozen bond between theice blocks and the walls of the compartments in which they are frozen. These arrangements have not been altogether satisfactory m'ainly'due to the fact that all of the ice blocks are; released substantially simultaneously from the freezing tray and the partition assembly, thereby requiring relatively great operating forces. In order 'to' reduce the force required tofmechanically'release the ice blocks, a coating of waxy material is frequently provided on the interior surface of the freezing tray. and on 'th exterior surfaceof the partition assembly. Although these coatings reduce the operating forces required to mechanically release the ice blocks 'whilethe coatings are intact, these coatings'arequickly worn off in use, and'particularly if the surfaces are cleaned in hot water. Consequently, such reduction in the required ,operating; forces is only of temporary character. I

It isanobjectof my invention to provide a freezing tra H nd a. partition assembly for producingjiceblocks, and an improved arrangement for mechanically releasing the ice blocks from the freezing: tray and the partition assembly without thawing the frozen bonds between the ice blocks and the freezing tray and the partition assembly.

Another ob'jeetof my invention is to provide an improved partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a number of individual partition elements of similar and economical construction.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved partition assembly for freezing trays commonly provided in the Application June 8, 1937, Serial No. 147,056

comprising a plurality of similar partition elements forming a plurality. of ice block compartments, and an arrangement for retaining the partition elements in asse'mbledrelation and for accommodating relative movements between the. partition elements to facilitatetherelease of the ice blocks therefrom.

Another object of'my invention? is to provide a freezing tray embodying'an improved arrangement for breakingthe frozenbond between the freezing-tray and asupporting surface of a cool- Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent'as the following description proceeds, and-"the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understandingof my invention, reference may be 'had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 isa perspective view of a freezing tray and a partition assembly comprising a plurality of similar individual parti-. tion elements forming a plurality of ice block compartments, and embodying my invention, the partition element adjacent the front end of the partition assembly being shown removed from the freezing tray to illustrate more clearly the arrangement; Fig. 2 is aside elevational view, partly in section, of the end partition element of the partition assembly along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a lever employed in releasing the ice blocks from the freezing tray and the partition assem- 35 bly; 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of the freezing tray and the partition assembly shown in- Fig. 1, and illustrating the mode of operation of the lever shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section; of the freezing tray, the partition assembly and a modified form of lever for releasing the ice blocks from the freezing tray; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the freezing tray, the partition assembly and a further modified form of lever for releasing the ice blocks from the freezing tray and the partition assembly; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, of the freezing tray, the partition assembly and a further modified form of lever for releasing the ice blocks from the freezing tray; Fig. 8'is a fragmentary perspective view of the freezing tray and a modified form of the partition assembly embodying 65 an arrangement employing links for retaining the partition elements in assembled relation and for accomodating limited relative movements of the partition elements with respect to each other and to the freezing .tray in order to facilitate the release of the ice blocks from the partition assembly and the freezing tray; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the partition assembly shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the freezing tray and a further modified form of the partition assembly embodying an arrangement; employing flexible strands for retaining the partition elements in assembled relation and for accommodating limited relative movements of the partition elements with respect to each other and to the freezing tray in order to facilitate the release of the ice blocks from the partition assembly and the freezing tray; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a modified form of the partition element; Fig. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a freezing tray and a modified form of partition assembly; Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view of the divider of Fig. 12; and showing one of the supporting rods in elevation; Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of the freezing tray; and Fig. 15 is a longitudinal sectional view of the freezing tray along the line I5I5 of Fig. 14.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 I have shown a shallow rectangular freezing tray I having a recess containing a removable partition assembly II. The freezing tray' I0 is provided with a substantially flat bottom wall and an upwardly directed marginal wall forming sides I2 and front and rear ends I3 and I4 respectively, a downwardly turned marginal rim I5 being provided about the upper edge of the marginal wall of the freezing tray.

The partition assembly I I comprises a plurality of individual and similar partition elements I6 arranged in series within the freezing tray I0. Preferably the freezing tray I0 and each of the partition elements I6 are made of sheet aluminum, but may be made of any other suitable material.

Each of the partition elements I6 comprises a vertically extending transverse dividing wall I1.

and a vertically extending longitudinal dividing wall I8 secured to the transverse dividing wall I! adjacent the center thereof and extending outwardly therefrom. The longitudinal dividing wall I8, together with the transverse dividing wall II, cooperate with the freezing tray to provide a pair of adjacent ice block compartments. The transverse dividing wall I! is provided with a laterally projecting curved flange or shoulder I9 adjacent the upper edge thereof extending over each of the ice block compartments. The flange I9 constitutes an abutment, and such an abutment may be made in any suitable manner, as by forming the partition element in any convenient manner, providing openings in the partition element, or by attaching thereto any desired element. The flange I9 is also downwardly turned and provided with a slot 20 therein providing abutments engaging opposite sides of the longitudinal dividing wall I8 to brace the longitudinal dividing wall against lateral movement, as best shown in Fig. 2. The arrangement for securing the longitudinal dividing wall I8 to the transverse dividing wall I! comprises a plurality of projecting tabs 2I formed on the longitudinal dividing wall I8 and projecting into suitable openings formed in the transverse dividing wall H, the tabs 2I being retained in place in any suitable manner, as by welding or peeningthe outer ends thereof. The transverse dividing wall I1 is also provided with a downwardly inclined flange or projection 22 along the lower edge thereof extending into each of the ice block compartments formed by the partition element I 6, which facilitates the mechanical release of the ice blocks from the freezing tray I0.

The individual partition elements I6 of the partition assembly II are arranged in juxtaposed relation in the freezing tray II) with the longitudinal dividing walls I8 extending in the same direction toward the front end I3 of the freezing tray and in substantial alinement along the center 'line of the partition assembly, the partition elements I6 being retained in assembled relation by cooperating shoulders 23 formed on the partition elements I6 adjacent the upper edge thereof and a plurality of spaced-apart and alined slots 25 provided in the downwardly turned marginal rim I5 of the freezing tray Ill. The slots 24 constitute abutments engaging the shoulders 23 provided on each of the partition elements I6 and retain the transverse dividing wall ll of each of the partition elements I6 substantially in spaced parallel relation in the freezing tray I0, and in engagement with the ends of the adjacent longitudinal dividing wall I8.

The partition assembly II is arranged within the freezing tray I8 and the ice block compartments formed by the partition elements I6 are filled with water, and the freezing tray I8 is placed upon the supporting surface of a cooling uuit of a refrigerating machine. The water level in the tray will be below the flanges I9, as these flanges are above the upper edge of the freezing tray. After the water contained in the freezing tray I0 has been frozen, the freezing tray is removed from the supporting surface of the cooling unit and a desired number of pairs or all of the ice blocks 25 are released from the freezing tray I8 and the partition assembly II for use as desired. The. ice blocks 25 are mechanically released from the freezing tray I0 and the partition assembly II, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of my invention, by employing a lever or element 26 provided with a bifurcated curved end 21 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and without thawing the frozen bonds between the ice blocks in the freezing tray and the partition assembly. Instead of using the lever 26 any other suitable instrument or arrangement may be employed for mechanically releasing the ice blocks from the freezing tray and the partition assembly. The bifurcated curved end of the lever 26 is slotted as indicated at 28, in order to provide two spaced-apart curved arms 29. The adjacent pairs of ice blocks 25 are released successively from the front end I3 of the freezing tray I0 towards the rear end I4 thereof, the front end I3 of the freezing tray I0 being upwardly inclined in order to facilitate the release of the pair of ice blocks 25 adjacent thereto. Also, the end partition element I6 of the partition assembly II adjacent the front end I3 of the freezing tray I0 is provided with a longitudinal dividing Wall I8 having an upwardly inclined portion I8a conforming to the upward inclination of the front end I3 of the freezing tray III.

In releasing a pair of the ice blocks 25 from the freezing tray I0 and the partition assembly II, the lever 26 is brought into engagement with one of the partition elements I6, as shown in Fig. 4. The slot 28 in the bifurcated curved end 21 of the lever 26 straddles the longitudinal dividing wall I8, the outer ends of the spaced- I I v 2,265,705;;-.;: I

apart ciirved arms 29 engage theaflange l3 pro-. the bifurcated..end 3i ofithefrlelle ttin is ug vided adjacent the upper portion .orthetransverse dividing wall II on opposite sides of the longitudinal dividing wall lt ofthepartition element it and the lower surfaces-of the curved curved arms 230! the bifurcated end.2'| of the lever 28 to fulcrum ontheaadiacent top surfaces 25a of the ice blocks ZIl andto exert a lifting; force upon the partition element I 6. The parinto engagementwith adjacent f h upper-unmanned the tr n ye s .dividinewalh;.-I'ltoi oneoft e nutme e le itw l3, thearms at;- :the--:bi furcated end ,3 I qonopposite :1; sidesiof: Fth8 710l18it11d11181 dividing :wall

ovided upon" the adjacent partition; element It and an tition element [5 isliftedwith respect to the-.--.

ice blocks 25, causing the. frozen bonds between the ice blocks 25 and the .transverse and longi- 25 are released from the'freezing tray I0 in a tudinal dividing walls of the partition element [6 to be broken. As the partition element I6 is lifted with respect to the ice. blocks and ing tray l0, without disturbing, the remaining ice from the freezing tray 10, the downwardly in-l clined flange or projection 22 provided adjacent the lower portion ofthe transverse dividing wall l'l causes a force to be exerted between the side surfaces 25b of the pair of ice blocks 25 being 1 released and an adjacent pair of ice blocks 25;

toward the front'end l3 .of the freezing tray 10 causes the frozen bonds between the pair. of ice blocks 25 and the freezing tray ill to be broken.

Adjacent pairs of the ice blocks 25; then may be released in a similar manner until the desired number, or all, of the ice blocks 25 have been released. The iceblocks 25 then may be readily removed for use as desired. Instead of the lever 26 any other. suitable arrangement may be used to exert the desired force between the partition element and the top surface of an ice block.

released successively in pairs, only a relatively small force is required to operate the lever 25.

.;-.upward lifting force uponthe one partition element 15, which breaks the frozen bonds between 3 thepair of iceblocks 25 carried by the one partitiongelement I6 and the freezing tray ID. The

desired number of pairs or all of theice blocks partition elements Iiiare removed from the freez-v blocks. The ice blocks 25are=then released from In Fig. 6 I haveshowna modified .ar-

rangement including a lever 31.;for mechanically releasing the ice blocks 25 fronlthe freezing tray I0 and .the partition elements; I-Giof the partition assembly ll. The-lever 34 isprovidedwitha I curved bifurcated end,35 providing. a pair of spaced-apart arms 36, the spacing between the outer. edges of the'arms 35 being slightlygreater than the width of the'freezing tray- Ill. A pair of downwardly-projecting flanges 31 are provided on the outer sides of-the arms 36 in order to In view r the fact that the ice blocks,25 are Moreover, adequate forces are exerted upon a pair of ice. blocks 25 to release the ice blocks without thawing the frozen bonds between the ice blocks 25'and' the freezing tray l0, and between the ice blocks 25 and the partition assembly ll, even though the freezing tray l0 and the partition elements It of .the partition assembly I l are not providedwith coatings of waxy material. This arrangement also has the advantage of providing for ready removal of a small number of ice blocks from the freezing tray without disturbingthe remaining ice blocks.

The provision of a freezing tray and a partition assembly forming a plurality of adjacent pairs of ice block compartments and an arrangement for and a method of releasing the adjacent pairs of ice blocks'successively from one end of the freezing tray toward the other end thereof is not my invention, but is the invention .of Larry D. Kelly and is describedand claimed in his application Serial No. 147,057, filed June 8, 1937,

'and assigned to the General Electric Company,.

position the curved end 35of. the lever 34 upon the downwardly turned rim 1 50f the freezing tray Hi. In releasing a pairof the ice blocks 25 from the freezing tray l0 and a partition element ll;

of the partition assembly II, the curved end 35 of the lever 34 is placed upon the downwardly turned rim l5 of the freezing tray III, the curved end 35 being positioned by the pair of down- .wardly projecting flanges 31 provided on the outer sides of the arms 35. The outer ends of the arms 35 engage the flange l9 provided adjacent the upper portion of the transverse dividing wall I I of the partition element .16 and the lower surfaces of the arms 36 engage the upper surfaces of the sides of the downwardly turned rim l5 of the freezing tray l0 and fulcrum thereon. When the outer end of the lever 35 is depressed, a downward force is exerted upon the upper surfaces of the sides of the downwardly turned rim l5 of the freezing tray l0 and an upward lifting force is exerted upon thepartition element 86 of the partition assembly ll, causing the frozen bonds between the ice blocks 25 and the freezing tray Hi to be broken. Upon further downwardmovement of the outer end of the lever 35; the adjacent top surfaces 25a of the ice blocks 25 are brought into engagement with the lower surfaces of the arms 36 on the curved end 35 of the lever 3d. Downward forces are exerted upon the adjacent top surfaces 25a of the ice blocks 25 and an upward lifting force is exerted upon the partition element It, causing the frozen bonds between the ice blocks 25 and the transverse and longitudinal dividing walls of the partition element It to be broken.

The partition'element l6 may then be removed from the freezing tray I0 and the pair of released ice blocks 25 may be removed from the freezing trays III for use as desired. Any numberof pairs f -.the ne partition;-:.element '1 j nitMfiPilWQfi portionzafl: .rofthe. lever 33 'is brought into enargagement with the upper portion of arr-adjacent Partition-element. I6; The handle portion-32 of the e er 30. is" depressedn sth .con e n portionvv 33,-,thereof to exert 21a downward, force or all of the ice blocks 25 may be removed from the freezing tray ID in a similar manner.

' portions of the longitudinal dividing walls 45 of In Fig. 'l I have shown a further modified arrangement including a lever 38 for mechanically releasing a pair of the ice blocks 25 from the freezing tray I 0. The lever 38 is provided with a bifurcated curved end 39, a handle portion 40 and an intermediate connecting portion 4|. In releasing a pair of the ice blocks 25 from the freezing tray In with the lever 38, the bifurcated curved end 39 of the lever 38 is brought into engagement with the flange I!) provided adjacent the upper portion of the dividing wall I! of one of the partition elements 16, the arms at the bifurcated end 39 on opposite sides of the longitudinal dividing wall l8 of the one partition element IS. The handle portion 40 of the lever 38 is then depressed causing the transverse dividing wall ll of the partition element IE to fulcrum upon an adjacent air of the ice blocks 25 and exert a force between the adjacent pair of the ice blocks 25 and the pair of ice blocks 25 being released, which breaks the frozen bonds between the pair of ice blocks being released and the freezing tray Ill. The desired number of pairs or all of'the ice blocks 25 are released from the freezing tray l0 in a similar manner. The released ice blocks 25 and partition elements l6 are removed from the freezing tray I 0, and the ice blocks 25 are then released from the partition elements IS in any suitable manner for use as desired.

For convenience in handling the partition ele ments of my improved freezing tray, I may provide any suitable arrangement for retaining the partition elements in assembled relation, so that they can be readily moved with respect to each other as required in breaking the individual partition elements loose from the ice blocks. In Fig. 8 this is accomplished by providing links 44 pivotally connecting together the partition elements at the middle thereof; in Fig. 9 a plurality of links 50 are shown pivotally connecting together the partition elements at the opposite sides thereof; in Fig. 10 the partition elements are connected together along their opposite sides by flexible wire-like connectors or strands 51; and in Fig. 12 the partition elements are connected together by supporting rods II. All of these connecting arrangements also provide for re taining the partition element in assembled relation, so as to facilitate placement in or removal from the freezing tray of the partition assembly.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a freezing tray I 0 of the construction shown in Fig, 1, and a modified form of partition assembly 42. The partition assembly 42 comprises a plurality of individual partition elements 43 of substantially the same construction as the partition elements I6 shown in Fig. 1, and an arrangement including a series of pivotal connections comprising a plurality. of pairs of links 44 pivotally connected to the upper portions of adjacent longitudinal dividing walls 45 of the partition 'elements 43 for retaining the partition elements in assembled relation. It will be observed that the longitudinal dividing walls 45 project somewhat above the transverse dividing walls 46 of the partition elements 43 in order to receive the pivotally connected pairs of links 44. The links of each pair are disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal dividing Walls 45 of the partition element 43 and are connected thereto by a plurality of pins 41 extending through holes provided in the ends of the links 44 and through holes provided in the upper the partition elements 43. This arrangement including the links 44 for retaining the partition elements 43 in assembled relation provides for limited relative movements of the partition elements 43 with respect to each other and to the freezing tray In, in order to facilitate the releaseof the ice blocks 25 from the partition elements 43 and from the freezing tray Hi. The adjacent pairs of ice blocks 25 are mechanically released from the partition elements 43 and from the freezing tray III by employing the lever 26 shown in Fig. 3, and in a manner similar to that described in connection with the release of the adjacent pairs of ice blocks 25 from the partition assembly II and the freezing tray l0 shown in Fig.- 4, without thawing the frozen bonds between the ice blocks and the freezing tray and the partition assembly.

After the desired number of pairs or all of the ice blocks 25 have been released from the partition assembly 42 and the freezing tray II), the partition elements 43 of the partition assem bly 42 may be freely swung from the front end I3 of the freezing tray I0 toward the rear end l4 of the freezing tray II] to facilitate the removal of the ice blocks 25 from the freezing tray 10. It will be understood that if only a few of the adjacent pairs of ice' blocks 25 are released from the partition assembly 42 and the freezing tray Ill, only a corresponding number of the partition elements 43 will be swung from the front end l3 of the freezing tray II) to facilitate removal of the released ice blocks 25. The remainder of the adjacent pairs of ice blocks 25 still bonded to the partition assembly 42 and the freezing tray ID will not be disturbed.

In a modified form of partition assembly 48, shown in Fig. 9, a plurality of individual partition elements 49 of substantially the same construction as the partition elements 43 shown in Fig. 8 are provided and retained in assembled relation by a series of pivotal connections comprising a plurality of links 50. In this arrangement the transverse dividing walls 5| of the partition elements 49 are provided withrearwardly extending tabs 52 disposed adjacent the upper portions thereof and on opposite sides of the longitudinal dividing walls 53. One of the links 50 is arranged on each side of the longitudinal dividing walls 53, and is pivotally connected to the tabs 52 disposed adjacent the upper portions of the transverse dividing walls. 5| of adjacent partition elements 49 and are secured thereto by a plurality of pins 54 extending through holes provided in the ends of the links 50 and through holes provided inthe ends of the tabs 52. Preferably, the ends of each of the links 50 are laterally offset with respect to each other in order that one end of the link may be pivoted to the inside wall of one of the tabs 52 and the other end of the link 50 may be pivoted to the outside wall of an adjacent tab 52 disposed on an adjacent partition element 49. Thisarra'ngement provides for free swinging movements of the partition elements 49 with respect to each other and to the freezing tray II) to facilitate the release of the ice blocks 25 from the partition assembly 48 and from the freezing tray I0, and lends additional rigidity to the partition assembly 48 along its longitudinal axis.

A preferred form of partition assembly 55 arranged in the freezing tray I0 is shown in Fig. 10. This form of the partition assembly 55 comprises a plurality of individual partition elements i such material is very strong and flexible.

56 of substantially the same construction as the partitionelements l6 shown in Fig. 1. The partition elements 56 are retained in assembled relation by a pair of flexible strands 51 formed of steel wire or any other suitable material and secured to the transverse dividing walls 58 and disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal dividing walls 59 of the individual partition elements 66. Preferably, the flexible strands 51 are formed of twisted plural strand stainless steel wire as The flexible strands 51 are secured in place by a plurality of upstanding tabs 66 provided adjacent the upper portion of the transverse dividing walls 58 of the partition elements 56, the upstanding tabs 60 being bent toward'each other about the manner similar to that described in connection with the constructions shown in Figs. 4 and 8.

In Fig. 11 I have shown a modified form of partition element 6| which comprises a transverse dividing wall 62 and a longitudinal dividing wall 63 secured to the transverse dividing wall 62 in a manner similar to that shown in Fig. 2, and adapted to cooperate with a freezing tray to form an adjacent pair of ice block compartments. The transverse dividing wall 62 of the partition element 6| is provided with a laterally projecting flange or shoulder 64 adjacent the upper portion thereof extending over each of the 'ice block compartments and constituting an abutment. The flange 64 is utilized in connection with the lever 26 shown in Fig. 3 to mechanically release the ice blocks from a freezing tray and the partition element 6|. In this construction the flange 64 is downtumed somewhat less than the flange l9 provided adjacent the upper portion of the transverse dividing wall I! of the partition element I6 shown in Fig. l in order to insure that the arms 29 provided on the bifurcatedcurved end 21 of the lever 26 will not verse dividing wall II of the partition element [6 shown in-Fig. 2. A plurality of partition elements 6| are retained in assembled relation by a pair of flexible strands 51 in order to provide a partition assembly of substantially the same construction as the partition assembly 55 shown in Fig. 10, and are arranged in a freezing tray.

A modified form of partition assembly 68 is shown in Fig. 12 arranged in a freezing tray 69. This partition assembly comprises a plurality of individual partition elements I6 of substantially 'freezing tray, and the reduced portions I2 of the rods are retained in the upper ends of the vertical slots. The slots I3 are preferably arranged above the top of the ice blocks to avoid the formation of ice in the slots which would interfere with the vertical sliding of the partition elements on the rods. Thus, when one of the partition elements is pried upwardly as shown at Illa to break the ice blocks loose therefrom and from the freezing tray, the vertical slots I3 provide for upward movement of the partition element Illa with respect to the other partition elements as required. In making this partition assembly the vertical slots I3 are formed so as to be open at the top, and the reduced portions I2 of the supp rting rods II are arranged in the slots. The upper ends of the slots are then closed by forcing together the opposing sides of cars 13a formed at the top of the slots.

The partition assemblies for freezing trays illustrated in Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, form the subject matter of my application Serial No. 325,141, filed March 21, 1940, and which is a division of mypresent application.

A modified form of freezing tray I4 is shown in Figs. 14 and 15 and comprises a substantially horizontal bottom wall I5 and an upwardly directed marginal wall providing sides I6 and front and rear ends TI and I6 respectively. Also, a downwardly turned rim I9 is provided adjacent the upper edge of the marginal wall engage the outer edge of the flange 64 and bend the same-during the release of the pair of ice blocks carried by the partition element 6|. This is accomplished by cutting off a portion of the outer edge of the flange 64. It will be observed I that the portion of the outer edge of the flange 64 which is cut oil stops short of the longitudinal dividing wall 63 of the partition element 6|, in order to provide apair of downwardly turned tabs 65 disposed on opposite sides of thelongitudinal dividing wall 63 and cooperating with a slot 66 formed in the flange 64 to form abutments for bracing the longitudinal dividingwall 63 of the partition element 6| against lateral of the freezing tray I4. The front end II of the freezing tray I4 is upwardly inclined in order to facilitate the release of the adjacent pair of ice blocks from the freezing tray I4 and a partition assembly disposed therein in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 and 4.'- Downwardly opening inclined recesses 86' are provided at the corners of the bottom of the rear end I6 of the freezing tray, in order to facilitate the, release oi the freezing tray from the supporting surface of a cooling unit.

As shown in Fig; 15, the bottom wall I5 of the freezing tray rests directly upon the supporting surface 8| of the cooling unit, the rear end I8 of the freezing tray being arranged adjacent the front of the cooling unit. When the water placed injthe freezing tray has been frozen into ice blocks, the freezing tray is mechanically released from the supporting surface 8| of the ice blocks in a manner similar to the fl ange 22 provided adjacent the lower portion of the transcfooling unit by employing the outer end of the lever 26 shown in Fig. 3. The outer end of the lever 26 is placed between the supporting surface ill of the cooling unit and the lower wall of one of the recesses 80, the lower wall of the recess 8|] being disposed at an angle of approximately degrees with the supporting surface 8|. The curved end of the lever 26 is depressed causing the outer end of the lever 26 to exert a force between the supporting surface 8| of the cooling unit and the lower wall of the recess 80 which breaks the frozen bond between the surface of the cooling unit and the bottom wall of the freezing tray. The freezing tray may then be removed from the supporting surface of the cooling unit and the desired number of ice blocks released therefrom and the partition assembly arranged therein in a manner similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 and 4.

The freezing tray illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15 forms the subject matter of my application Serial No. 325,142, filed March 21, 1940, and which is a division of my present application.

While I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, modifications thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art. I do not, therefore, desire my invention to be limited to the particular constructions shown and described, and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination with a freezing tray having upwardly directed sides and ends, a partition element cooperating with said freezing tray to form a plurality of ice block compartments, said partition element comprising a transverse dividing wall and alongitudinal dividing wall rigidly secured to said transverse dividing wall and extending from one side of said transverse dividin wall, said transverse dividing wall having a flange adjacent the upper portion thereof extending over at least one of said compartments, said transverse wall including an inclined projection, and manually operable means adapted to exert a force between the flange on said transverse dividing wall and an adjacent top surface of an 1 ice block disposed in said one compartment for breaking a frozen bond between said ice block and said partition element and to exert a force between the inclined projection on said transverse dividing wall and an adjacent side surface of said ice block for breaking a frozen bond between said ice block and said freezing tray, the inclined projection on said transverse dividing wall being arranged to shift said ice block with respect to said freezing tray.

2. In combination with a freezing tray having upwardly directed sides and ends, a partition element cooperating with said freezing tray to form a plurality of ice block compartments, said partition element comprising a transverse dividing wall and a longitudinal dividing wall rigidly se cured to said transverse dividing wall and exe tending from one side of said transverse dividing wall, said transverse dividing wall having a flange adjacent the upper portion thereof extending over at least one of said compartments, said transverse wall including an inclined projection, and manually operable means adapted to exert a force between the flange on said transverse dividing wall and an adjacent top surface of an ice block disposed in said one compartment vfor breaking a frozen bond between said ice block and said partition element and to exert a force between the inclined projection on said transinclined projection on said transverse dividing wall being arranged to shift said ice block toward one end of said freezing tray, said one end of said freezing tray being upwardly inclined to facilitate shifting of said ice block.

3. In combination with a freezing tray having upwardly directed sides, a partition assembly comprising a plurality of similar individual partition elements, each of said partition elements including a transverse dividing wall and a longitudinal dividing wall extending from one side of saidtransverse dividing wall and cooperating vn'th said freezing tray to form a plurality of ice block compartments, said partition elements being arranged in juxtaposed relation in said freezing tray with said longitudinal dividing walls extending in the same direction and in substantial alignment, said partition elements being individually movable with respect to said freezing tray to facilitate the release of ice blocks from said compartments, and means including a plurality of spaced apart and aligned abutments provided on the sides of said freezing tray for retaining said partition element in assembled relation in said freezing tray.

4. In combination with a freezing tray, a partition assembly comprising a plurality of similar partition elements, each of said partition elements including a vertically extending transverse dividing wall and a vertically extending longitudinal dividing wall secured to and extending from one side of said transverse dividing wall and cooperating with said freezing tray to form a plurality of ice block compartments, each of said partition elements having an abutment adjacent the upper portion thereof, said partition elements being arranged in juxtaposed relation in said freezing tray with said longitudinal dividing walls extending in the same direction and in substantial alignment, means for retaining said partition elements in assembled relation and for accommodating limited independent relative movements between said partition elements and between said partition elements and said freezing tray, and manually operable means including an element adapted to engage the abutment on any one of said partition elements and an adjacent top surface of an ice block disposed in one of said compartments for breaking a frozen bond between said ice block and said one partition element and. for breaking a frozen bond between said ice block and said freezing tray.

5. In combination with a freezing tray, a partition assembly comprising a plurality of similar partition elements, each of said partition elements including a vertically extending transverse dividing wall and a vertically extending longitudinal dividing wall extending from one side of said transverse dividing wall and cooperating with said freezing tray to form a plurality of ice block compartments, said partition elements being arranged in juxtaposed relation in said freezing tray with said longitudinal dividing walls extending in the same direction and in substantial alignment, and means for retaining said partition elements in assembled relation and for accommodating free swinging movements of said partition elements with respect to each other and to said freezing tray to facilitate the release of ice blocks from said compartments, said means being arranged to accommodate successive free swinging movements of said partition elements cent transverse dividing walls, said links providfrom one end of said freezing tray toward the other end thereof.

6. A removable partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a plurality of similar partition elements, each of said partition elements including a transverse dividing wall and a longitudinal dividing wall extending from one side of said for retaining said partition elements in assembled relation, said links providing for limited independent relative movements between said partition elements to facilitate the release of ice blocks from said compartments, each one of said links being pivotally connected to each of a pair of adjacent partition elements.

7. A removable partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a plurality of similar par tition elements, each of said partition elements including a transverse dividing wall and a longitudinal dividing wall extending from one side of said transverse dividing wall and forming walls of a plurality of ice block compartments, said partition elements being arranged in juxtaposed relation with said longitudinal dividing walls extending in the same direction and in substantial alignment, and means including a series of links for retaining said partition elements in assembled relation, said links providing for limited independent relative movements between said partition elements to facilitate the release of ice blocks from said compartments, each of said links being pivotally connected to the upper portion of each of a pair of adjacent longitudinal dividing walls.

8. A removable partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a plurality of similar partition elements, each of said partition elements including a transverse dividing wall and a longitudinal dividing wall extending from one side of said transverse dividing wall and forming walls of a plurality of ice block compartments, said partition elements being arranged in juxtaposed relation with said longitudinal dividing walls extending in the same direction and in substantial alignment, and means including a series of links for retaining said partition elements in assembled relation, and links providing for limited independent relative movements between said partition elements to facilitate the release of ice blocks from said compartments, each of said links being pivotally connected to the upper portion of each of a pair of adjacent transverse dividing walls.

9. A removable partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a plurality of similar partition elements, each of said partition elements including a transverse dividing wall and a longitudinal dividing wall extending from one side of said transverse dividing wall and forming walls of a plurality of ice block compartments, said partition elements being arranged in juxtaposed relation with said longitudinal dividing walls extending in the same direction and in substantial alignment, and means including a series of pairs of links for retaining said partition elements in assembled relation, the individual links of each of said pairs of links being disposed on opposite sides of said longitudinal dividing walls and being pivotally connected to the upper portions of each of a pair of adjaing for limited independent relative movements between said partition elements to facilitate the release of ice blocks from said compartments.

10. A removable partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a plurality of similar partition elements adapted to form walls of a plurality of ice block compartments, each of said partition elements including a transverse wall having an opening therein and 'a longitudinal wall secured thereto and having a portion extending through said opening, said partition elements being arranged in 'Quxtaposed relation with said longitudinal dividing walls in substantial alignment, and meanspivotally connecting adjacent ones of said longitudinal dividing 'walls for retaining said elements in assembled relation, said means affording relative swinging movement between adjacent ones of said elements to facilitate release of ice blocks from the walls of said ice block compartments.

11. In combination with a freezing tray. a partition assembly cooperating with said freezing tray to form a plurality of ice block compartments, said assembly comprising a plurality of similar partition elements each having a transverse dividing wall and a longitudinal dividing wall rigidly secured thereto and extending from one side thereof, each of said elements having an abutment adjacent the upper portion thereof, and manually operable means adapted to engage the abutment on one of said elements and exert on said element a force directed away from said tray to break a frozen bond between said tray and any ice blocks adjacent the longitudinal wall of said one of said elements, each of said elements being arranged to be independently-movable to at least a limited distance from said tray without disturbing the remaining ones of said elements.

12. In combination with a freezing tray, 9. removable partition assembly comprising a plurality of similar partition elements, each of said elements including a transverse dividing wall and a longitudinal dividing wall rigidly secured thereto and forming walls of a plurality of ice block compartments, said partition elements being arranged in juxtaposed relation with said longitudinal dividing walls extending in the same direction and in substantial alignment, and means including a series of pivotal connections for retaining said elements in assembled relation and for facilitating the release of ice blocks from said compartments, said series of pivotal connections being arranged to accommodate successive free swinging movements of said partition elements from one end of said freezing tray toward the other end thereof.

13. In combination with a freezing tray, 9. removable partition assembly cooperating with said freezing tray to form a plurality of. ice block compartments, said assembly comprising a plurality of similar partition elements each including a transverse dividing wall and a longitudinal dividing wall rigidly secured thereto, said partition elements being arranged in juxtaposed relation in said tray with said longitudinal dividing walls extending in the same direction and in substantial alignment, each of said elements having" an abutment adjacent the upper portion thereof, manually operable means adapted to engage the abutment on one of said elements and exert on said element a force directed away from said tray to break a frozen bond between said tray and any ice blocks ad- Jacent the longitudinal wall of said one of said elements, and means including a. series of pivotal connections for retaining said elements in assembled relation and for facilitating the release of ice blocks from said compartments, said series at pivotal connections being arranged to accommodate successive swinging movements or said partition elements from one end of said freezing tray toward the other end thereof.

14. A removable partition assembly for freezing trays comprising a plurality of similar partition elements, each of said partition elements including a transverse dividing wall and a lon itudinal dividing wall rigidly secured thereto and forming walls of a plurality of ice block compartments, said partition elements being'arranged in juxtaposed relation with said longitudinal dividing walls extending in the se direction and in substantial alignment, means including two series of links for retz ing said-partition elements in assembled n tion, one of said two series of links being ranged on one side of said longitudinal di ing walls and the other of said two series links being arranged on the other side of l longitudinal dividing walls, each of the ii of said two series of links being pivotally c nected to each of a pair of adjacent partii elements, said links providing for limited in pendent relative movements between said I tition elements to facilitate the release of 15 blocks from said compartments.

CARL H. S'I'EENSTRU] CERT IFICATE OF conmsc'uofi. Patent H0 2,265,7 5- December 9, 1911.1.

I CARL H. 'STEENSTRUP.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page7, first column, line 9, claim 6, for "blocks" reeglf-block-q line 52, claim 8, for "and" read. -sa1d-; page 8, first column, line 6, claim 15, f0 "af" read --of-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may confonn to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 17th day r February,'A. D. 191;.2.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

